Job summary
An exciting opportunity has arisen to join East Suffolk & North Essex Trust as the Head of Patient Safety. The post holder has a key role in the development of patient safety and the patient safety strategy in line with the NHS Patient Safety Strategy. The successful applicant will show outstanding leadership qualities and will be responsible for ensuring the safe care of patients through the development of a patient safety culture across the organisation. This includes developing a culture of continuous learning and improvement and one where staff feel psychologically safe to raise patient safety concerns.
The Trust are early adopters of the Patient Safety Incident Response Framework (PSIRF), providing an opportunity to respond to patient safety incidents in an effective and proactive manner, ensuring the principles of just culture are embedded. The Head of Patient Safety will be proactive in supporting other NHS organisations to undertake PSIRF, while being responsible for the day to day management of incidents and delivery of the Trust's Patient Safety Incident Response Plan.
The successful candidate will have a strong working knowledge and experience of implementing and managing safety and will provide advice and support on clinical risk issues.
Previous applicants need not apply.
Main duties of the job
- The Head of Patient Safety will be responsible for managing a portfolio of safety and quality teams. The successful candidate will support the local implementation of the NHS National Patient Safety Strategy, and will act as the Trust's Associate Patient Safety Specialist, led by the Deputy Chief Nurse for Quality.
- The Head of Patient Safety will be responsible for all aspects of the patient safety and incident management functions to support the delivery of high quality, safe care for all who use the Trust's services. The post holder will contribute to the trust's overall patient safety, patient experience and risk management arrangements. Support and guidance will be provided to clinicians and managers in these areas to ensure safe, quality services can be achieved, and deliver a framework of integrated governance for the trust in a co-ordinated, systematic, transparent and focussed way.
- The post holder will be responsible for the Sepsis and Deteriorating Patient Team and the implementation of all associated programmes.
- The post holder will be responsible for the delivery of a Resuscitation training across the Trust and for line management of the Team and overarching governance.
About us
One of the largest Trust's in East Anglia, East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust (ESNEFT) provide hospital and community health services to people living across a wide geographical area. We deliver care from two main hospitals in Colchester and Ipswich, six community hospitals and in patients' own homes. You will be joining a team of over 11,000 amazing colleagues providing care to 800,000 residents.
Along with supporting you to achieve your career goals we offer a generous pension scheme, 27 days annual leave on commencement (pro rata) and access to a range of NHS discounts. Our Staff Health & Wellbeing programme offer a range of services including mental health support. We offer a range of flexible working opportunities.
Our philosophy is that Time Matters to everyone. Across the Trust, we concentrate on improving the things we do and removing those which do not work or cause time delays for our staff and patients.
To support our employees to achieve their career aspirations you may be eligible to obtain a qualification via an apprenticeship. All successful applicants will be required to undertake a skills review to facilitate this. For full details please see the attached Apprenticeship Handbook
If you are passionate about patient care and want to develop your skills and knowledge then we are keen to hear from you.
Find out about living and working with us - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GkPu7HphU8A
Job description
Job responsibilities
- The Head of Patient Safety will be responsible for all aspects of the patient safety and incident management functions to support the delivery of high quality, safe care for all who use the Trusts services. The post holder will contribute to the trusts overall patient safety, patient experience and risk management arrangements. Support and guidance will be provided to clinicians and managers in these areas to ensure safe, quality services can be achieved, and deliver a framework of integrated governance for the trust in a co-ordinated, systematic, transparent and focussed way.
- The post holder will be responsible for the Sepsis and Deteriorating Patient Team and the implementation of all associated programmes.
- The post holder will be responsible for the delivery of a Resuscitation training across the Trust and for line management of the Team and overarching governance.
- The post holder will be responsible for the co-ordination, implementation and continuous development of a patient safety environment and culture, through the effective day-to-day management of systems and mechanisms to support the reporting of, and investigations of incidents, including serious incidents and the clinical audit function.
- The post holder will be responsible for the effective leadership and management of the Trusts Patient Safety Team and Sepsis & Deteriorating Patient Team that is capable of demonstrating high levels of best practice to ensure compliance with all relevant legislation. The post holder will be responsible for the management of corporate clinical teams as required.
- The post holder will play a pivotal role in supporting the divisional clinical governance teams to ensure that the trust develops robust systems and mechanism to ensure that it is learning from patient safety incidents, clinical audit, claims and inquests and risks so that practice is changed.
- The post holder will liaise closely with the Head of Patient Experience to ensure that complaints, PALS concerns and other aspects of patient experience are analysed to ensure a robust analysis of key governance functions is undertaken to support the Trust in identifying key risks to the delivery of services and provision of care.
- To be responsible for the direct implementation of governance, quality and risk strategies and programmes that support improvement to quality and safety of patient care.
- To support the Associate Director of Clinical Governance in delivering the trusts clinical governance arrangements so that they are disseminated and understood across the organisation.
- To use specialist knowledge and expertise to support and deliver effective integrated clinical governance and quality systems and processes which are aimed at improving patient safety and are in line with local, regional and national guidelines and statutory requirements.
- To work in partnership with peers and colleagues in the Patient Safety & Quality team so that seamless links across the functions are established to improve and maintain quality and safety of patient care.
- To support the development of the devolved clinical governance arrangements by working closely and in harmony with the divisional governance facilitators. Ensuring that new ways of working are communicated understood and supported.
- To support the Associate Director of Clinical Governance as the Nominated Individual in the discharge of their duties and responsibilities.
- To contribute to and support the Trusts various committee and groups that exist to address patient safety management issues.
- Responsible for ensuring that there are appropriate mechanisms, systems and guidance in place for the investigation of serious incidents, including assigning investigation leads, establishing terms of reference, undertaking investigations, report writing and quality assurance of reports.
- Responsible for preparing reports on patient safety and showing progress of the Trust Patient Safety Incident Response Plan (PSIRP) including incidents and never events and ensuring that themes and trends are identified and working collegiately with colleagues in clinical divisions and other professions so that there is learning from experience and change in practice can be evidenced.
- Support the work of the Quality Improvement Teams and Clinical Audit and Effectiveness team to ensure that the annual clinical audit programme is delivered and that Quality Improvements are supported through the Patient Safety agenda.
- Ensure that any Patient Safety Alerts are reviewed alongside the Manager for Clinical Audit, to assure correct dissemination to the appropriate staff groups to minimise the risk of harm to patients.
- Work with the Head of Patient Experience to ensure that the Trust has an effective complaints function that complies with national complaints regulation and that any combined Serious Incident investigations and complaints are co-ordinated to support patients and families through due process.
- Work with the Head of Patient Experience to ensure that the Trust operates an effective PALs service that is adequately resourced, visible and accessible to patients and their families/carers so that they know where to obtain support if they want to raise a concern or issue.
For full details of the responsibilities and duties of this role please see the attached job description.
Job description
Job responsibilities
- The Head of Patient Safety will be responsible for all aspects of the patient safety and incident management functions to support the delivery of high quality, safe care for all who use the Trusts services. The post holder will contribute to the trusts overall patient safety, patient experience and risk management arrangements. Support and guidance will be provided to clinicians and managers in these areas to ensure safe, quality services can be achieved, and deliver a framework of integrated governance for the trust in a co-ordinated, systematic, transparent and focussed way.
- The post holder will be responsible for the Sepsis and Deteriorating Patient Team and the implementation of all associated programmes.
- The post holder will be responsible for the delivery of a Resuscitation training across the Trust and for line management of the Team and overarching governance.
- The post holder will be responsible for the co-ordination, implementation and continuous development of a patient safety environment and culture, through the effective day-to-day management of systems and mechanisms to support the reporting of, and investigations of incidents, including serious incidents and the clinical audit function.
- The post holder will be responsible for the effective leadership and management of the Trusts Patient Safety Team and Sepsis & Deteriorating Patient Team that is capable of demonstrating high levels of best practice to ensure compliance with all relevant legislation. The post holder will be responsible for the management of corporate clinical teams as required.
- The post holder will play a pivotal role in supporting the divisional clinical governance teams to ensure that the trust develops robust systems and mechanism to ensure that it is learning from patient safety incidents, clinical audit, claims and inquests and risks so that practice is changed.
- The post holder will liaise closely with the Head of Patient Experience to ensure that complaints, PALS concerns and other aspects of patient experience are analysed to ensure a robust analysis of key governance functions is undertaken to support the Trust in identifying key risks to the delivery of services and provision of care.
- To be responsible for the direct implementation of governance, quality and risk strategies and programmes that support improvement to quality and safety of patient care.
- To support the Associate Director of Clinical Governance in delivering the trusts clinical governance arrangements so that they are disseminated and understood across the organisation.
- To use specialist knowledge and expertise to support and deliver effective integrated clinical governance and quality systems and processes which are aimed at improving patient safety and are in line with local, regional and national guidelines and statutory requirements.
- To work in partnership with peers and colleagues in the Patient Safety & Quality team so that seamless links across the functions are established to improve and maintain quality and safety of patient care.
- To support the development of the devolved clinical governance arrangements by working closely and in harmony with the divisional governance facilitators. Ensuring that new ways of working are communicated understood and supported.
- To support the Associate Director of Clinical Governance as the Nominated Individual in the discharge of their duties and responsibilities.
- To contribute to and support the Trusts various committee and groups that exist to address patient safety management issues.
- Responsible for ensuring that there are appropriate mechanisms, systems and guidance in place for the investigation of serious incidents, including assigning investigation leads, establishing terms of reference, undertaking investigations, report writing and quality assurance of reports.
- Responsible for preparing reports on patient safety and showing progress of the Trust Patient Safety Incident Response Plan (PSIRP) including incidents and never events and ensuring that themes and trends are identified and working collegiately with colleagues in clinical divisions and other professions so that there is learning from experience and change in practice can be evidenced.
- Support the work of the Quality Improvement Teams and Clinical Audit and Effectiveness team to ensure that the annual clinical audit programme is delivered and that Quality Improvements are supported through the Patient Safety agenda.
- Ensure that any Patient Safety Alerts are reviewed alongside the Manager for Clinical Audit, to assure correct dissemination to the appropriate staff groups to minimise the risk of harm to patients.
- Work with the Head of Patient Experience to ensure that the Trust has an effective complaints function that complies with national complaints regulation and that any combined Serious Incident investigations and complaints are co-ordinated to support patients and families through due process.
- Work with the Head of Patient Experience to ensure that the Trust operates an effective PALs service that is adequately resourced, visible and accessible to patients and their families/carers so that they know where to obtain support if they want to raise a concern or issue.
For full details of the responsibilities and duties of this role please see the attached job description.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Clinical qualification and current professional registration
- Educated to masters level or equivalent experience
- Evidence of continuing professional development in areas such as; root cause analysis, appreciative enquiry/human factors, risk management, clinical governance
- Management/leadership qualification or equivalent experience
Desirable
- Project Management Qualification
- Professional qualification in a relevant health or social care setting
- Professional qualification in Clinical Audit
- Risk management/clinical governance associated course/qualification
Experience
Essential
- Proven experience of working in a senior management/leadership role
- Leading changes in practice in a complex environment to improve performance/services
- Leading complex projects
- Responsible for a significant budget and budget setting
- Business case development
- Expert Root Cause Analysis Investigator
- Proven experience working in a complex NHS setting in a governance/risk/patient safety role within the large complex provider NHS service.
- Experience of working with clinicians and multi-professional teams to achieve improvements in patient safety
- Evidence of achieving targets and objectives within a challenging environment
Knowledge and Skills
Essential
- Able to use IT systems including Microsoft Office
- In depth understanding of the current NHS agenda and healthcare policy including transformation and workforce
- Good knowledge and understanding of both integrated and clinical governance and regulatory systems and requirements.
- Natural leadership ability with the ability to motivate and enthuse others.
- Strong communication skills both written and verbal
Desirable
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Clinical qualification and current professional registration
- Educated to masters level or equivalent experience
- Evidence of continuing professional development in areas such as; root cause analysis, appreciative enquiry/human factors, risk management, clinical governance
- Management/leadership qualification or equivalent experience
Desirable
- Project Management Qualification
- Professional qualification in a relevant health or social care setting
- Professional qualification in Clinical Audit
- Risk management/clinical governance associated course/qualification
Experience
Essential
- Proven experience of working in a senior management/leadership role
- Leading changes in practice in a complex environment to improve performance/services
- Leading complex projects
- Responsible for a significant budget and budget setting
- Business case development
- Expert Root Cause Analysis Investigator
- Proven experience working in a complex NHS setting in a governance/risk/patient safety role within the large complex provider NHS service.
- Experience of working with clinicians and multi-professional teams to achieve improvements in patient safety
- Evidence of achieving targets and objectives within a challenging environment
Knowledge and Skills
Essential
- Able to use IT systems including Microsoft Office
- In depth understanding of the current NHS agenda and healthcare policy including transformation and workforce
- Good knowledge and understanding of both integrated and clinical governance and regulatory systems and requirements.
- Natural leadership ability with the ability to motivate and enthuse others.
- Strong communication skills both written and verbal
Desirable
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Additional information
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
